Ladies, how much do you know about the tires on your car, truck or SUV? They are the legs that your vehicle moves around on. Just as your legs need to be taken care of and maintained to get your body around, so does your car’s “legs.” If they get old, tired and out of shape your car is stuck sitting, just like you would be if your legs didn’t work right.
This doesn’t mean that you have to learn how to jack up a heavy vehicle and break the lug nuts loose, but you should know a few maintenance tips to keep those tires, and the rest of the vehicle, in good shape. Your tires will actually talk to you about their condition and may even tell you if there is something wrong with something else on the car.
Visually Inspect the Tires Regularly
How often do you look down at the tires when you get into your vehicle? I have learned to scan the tires nearly every time I walk out to the driveway, especially if I am getting in it to leave. Why? If you have ever driven off with out realizing one of the tires is nearly flat you’d understand. You will find yourself stranded just a few blocks away from home.
Lean or squat down to eye level directly in front of the vehicle and check the tread for signs of wear. Tires should show wear evenly across the tread. If there is more wear on one side then the other, this could be a sign that your front end is out of alignment. Compare the way both front tires are sitting. If both are not tracking identically, you should have a mechanic look at your vehicle.
Keep the tires clean so that you can see what the sidewalls look like with just a glance. Check all 4 tires regularly to make sure there are no knots or cracks. A tire can have a lot of tread left on it, but can have bad spots on the sides or in the tread. You can drive over something that may damage the sidewall, or it can simply crack from age or dry rot. It could eventually blow out, so if you see anything suspicious, have a tire shop look at it immediately.
Tires are purchased as having “so many miles” on them. How long the tread will last depends on the type of tire and the type of driving you typically do. When a tire shop tells you how many miles your new tires are good for, that is an average.
It is up to you to monitor the wear on the tread. If you have a habit of “burning rubber” those tires won’t last very long. Have you ever heard the term “may pop tires?” That’s when the tread is so worn off that they “may pop” at any minute. Never drive your car until there is no tread left. It is dangerous, as the slick tire will not grip the road.
Check the Tire’s Air Pressure Regularly
Tires lose air. It happens when the temperatures change. It happens when the vehicle sits for a long period of time. It even happens mysteriously. It could even be that there is a slight leak around the rim or the valve stem. If all 4 tires do not have the same air pressure in them, it can affect the gas mileage and how the vehicle handles. It is easy to check the air pressure. I carry an air pressure gauge in my glove box and I have an air tank in my garage. You do not have to have these things. Most gas stations offer pressurized air for tires and there is a tire gauge either on the hose or available nearby.
The amount of air that your tire should hold is written on the side of the tire. Place the air pressure gauge on the valve stem and push it in. Some gauges will have a stem that pops up to tell you how much air the tire has in it. Some have a digital read out. Place the air hose on the valve stem and fill the tire with air, checking periodically until it has the required amount of air in it. Make sure all 4 tires have the same amount of air.
So there you go, ladies; a little bit of tire talk to help you maintain your vehicle’s tires and to save you unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. Read those sidewalls and your tires will tell you exactly what size they are and how much air they hold. If nothing else, the tire shop will be impressed that you know what size tires you are looking for when you need to replace them.